Method and apparatus for making and manipulating cigarettes
and similar rod-shaped articles



May 26, 1970 H. BOHN ET AL Re. 26, 00

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND MANIPULATING CIGARETTES AND SIMILARROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Original Filed March 26, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May26, 1970 H. BOHN ET AL Re. 26,900

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND MANIPULATING CIGARETTES AND SIMILARROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Original Filed March 26. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTORS year) 80/7 H. BOHN ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANDMANIPULATING CIGARETTES AND SIMILAR ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Original FiledMarch 26. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 May 26, 1970 H. BOHN E L Rm 26,900

METHOD AND APPARATUS FDR MAKING AND MANIPULATING CIGARETTES AND SIMILARROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Original Filed March 26, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet FIG. .9

May 26, 1970 H. BOHN ETAL Re. 26,900

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND MANIPULATING CIGARETTES AND SIMILARROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Original Filed March 26, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG./0

United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND MANIPULATINGCIGARETTES AND SIMILAR ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Horst Bohn and Karl-HeinzSchliiter, Hamburg, Germany, assignors to Hauni-Werke Korher & Co. K.G.,Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Original No. 3,372,702, dated Mar. 12, 1968,Ser. No. 354,900, Mar. 26, 1964. Application for reissue Feb. 20, 1969,Ser. No. 806,750 Claims priority, application Germany, June 28, 1958,

H 33,677; Aug. 25, 1958, H 34,162 Int. Cl. A24c 5/28, 5/52 US. Cl.131-94 Claims Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the originalpatent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printedin italics indicates the addihons made by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus and method for making cigaretteswherein a continuous cigarette rod is severed into double lengths, movedsideways and severed into unit lengths, separated without touching thesevered ends and has double filter mouthpieces inserted and attachedbetween the ends, after which the newly joined double cigarette issevered into unit cigarette lengths at the mouthpiece.

Cross-reference to related application This is a re-issue of our Pat.No. 3,372,702, granted Mar. .12, 1968.

[This is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 822,510,filed June 24, 1959, and now abandoned] Background of the invention Thepresent invention relates to the manufacture of cigarettes and similarrod-shaped articles, and particularly to a method and apparatus for theproduction of filter cigarettes.

In the production of filter cigarettes, proper handling of comparativelyshort cigarette rods and/or filter mouthpieces presents seriousproblems. Thus, the wrappers of such rod-shaped articles are likely toundergo deformation which affects the sales appeal of the ultimateproduct, cigarette rods are likely to lose some tobacco so that the endsof tobacco-containing portions of filter cigarettes are not packed astightly as the remaining zones thereof, the joints between thetobacco-containing portions and the filter mouthpieces are likely toleak, kink or break, and it is difficult to manipulate such shortrod-shaped articles at very high speeds which are desirable in modernmassproducing machines.

In accordance with certain more recent proposals, cigarette rods andfilter mouthpieces of multiple unit length are assembled into filtercigarettes of multiple unit length, and such assemblies are severed toyield filter cigarettes of unit length. The present invention isconcerned with improvements in such recent methods and apparatus for theproduction of filter cigarettes.

Summary of the invention It is an important object of our invention toprovide a method of making and manipulating cigarettes according towhich at least one end portion of each cigarette is not subjected toany, or is not subjected to appreciable mechanical stresses which couldcause the tobacco particles to escape or which would cause undesirablecompacting of tobacco and/or excessive deformation of the paper tubewhich surrounds the tobacco filler.

Cir

Re. 26,900 Reissued May 26, 1970 Another object of the invention is toprovide a method of the just outlined characteristics which isespecially suited for the production and manipulation of filtercigarettes because the cigarettes are not likely to leak, kink, bend orbreak at the joint between the filter mouthpiece and thetobacco-containing portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of the aboveoutlined characteristics according to which at least one end face ofeach cigarette need not be touched by any mechanical devices all the wayfrom the point where a cigarette of unit length is formed and up to andbeyond the point where filter cigarettes are stacked in trays, boxes,packages or other types of receptacles.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a novelmethod of severing a continuous cigarette rod into cigarettes ofultimate length or multiple unit length without subjecting at least oneend face of each cigarette to any such stresses which could cause escapeof tobacco and/or excessive deformation or destruction of the wrapper.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive apparatus for carrying out the method of our invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyorwhich is capable of separating or spreading aligned cigarettes of unitlength or multiple unit length without subjecting at least one end faceof each cigarette to any mechanical stresses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette machinewhich embodies a conveyor of the just outlined characteristics.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a cigarette machinewhich is especially suited for the production of filter cigarettes andwhich may be operated at very high speeds so that its output dependsmainly on the capacity of the stacking and storing apparatus whichreceive the filter cigarettes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filter cigarette machineof the above outlined characteristics which is constructed and assembledin such a way that the number of rejects (i.e., the number of damaged ordestroyed filter cigarettes) is reduced to a minimum, which can beoperated in a fully automatic way with little or no supervision, andwhich may be readily combined with conventional machines for theproduction of cigarette rods and filter mouthpieces, and/or with devicesfor stacking cigarettes with or without filter mouthpieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filter cigarettemachine which may be coupled directly with a cigarette rod makingmachine, with a filter rod making machine, or which may receivecigarette rods and filter mouthpieces from hoppers, magazines or similarsources of properly stacked rod-shaped articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filter cigarette machinewherein the cigarette rods are manipulated with a minimum of axial(endwise) movement so that such rods are not likely to lose tobacco ontheir way through the cutting, assembling, wrapping, heating, invertingand other stations.

With the above objects in view, one feature of our invention resides inthe provision of a method of making and manipulating cigarettes,particularly filter cigarettes, which comprises the steps of forming acontinuous cigarette rod by Wrapping a paper web around a tobaccofilter, moving the thus obtained cigarette rod lengthwise [endwise],consecutively severing this continuous cigarette rod at longitudinallyspaced points to form cigarette rods of multiple unit length anddeflecting each freshly obtained cigarette rod sideways, preferably insuch a way that the rods of multiple unit length advance in a singlefile and in a direction substantially at right angles to thelongitudinal extensions thereof, consecutively severing such rods toform rows of axially aligned cigarettes whereby the cigarettes of eachrow have closely adjacent inner end faces, and shifting the alignedcigarettes in consecutive rows away from each other to thereby increasethe distances between the respective end faces.

In accordance with a very important feature of our invention, suchshifting of cigarettes in consecutive rows may be effected withoutsubjecting the inner end faces of the cigarettes to mechanical streseswhich could cause particles of tobacco to be loosened or the paper tubeto become deformed while the cigarettes are being shifted in directionsaway from each other. For example, such shifting of cagarettes may beeffected by pulling the cigarettes away fro meach other, i.e., bysubjecting the cigarettes to shifting forces which act thereon in zonesother than the end faces thereof.

When the method of our invention is utilized in the production of filtercigarettes, filter mouthpieces of multiple unit length may be insertedinto gaps between the spaced-apart end faces of aligned cigarettes,whereupon the aligned cigarettes are moved toward each other so thattheir end faces come in actual abutment with the respective filtermouthpieces, and each filter mouthpiece is cut in half after a wrapperof paper or similar wrapper material is applied thereabout and about theadjacent end portions of the respective cigarettes. In accordance withthis method, one can obtain filter cigarettes wherein the density oftobacco filters in immediate proximity of the filter mouthpiece is thesame as in the remainder of the tobacco-containing portion because eachcigarette is manipulated with a view to avoid subjecting its inner endface (i.e., that end face which is to abut against a filter mouthpiece)to any mechanical stresses such as could cause escape of tobaccoparticles, exessive deformation of the wrapper which is applied aroundthe respective end portion of the cigarette, excessive compacting oftobacco in the respective end portion, or any other stresses which mightadversely affect the appearance, strength and/or quality of the ultimateproduct.

The apparatus of our invention preferably comprises a conveyor includingpairs of conical drums which lead aligned cigarettes of consecutive rowsin divergent paths so that the distance between the end faces of thecigarettes increases and that the resulting gaps may receive filtermouthpieces of multiple unit length.

The conveyor supports the paper tubes of cigarettes so that the endfaces of the cigarettes need not be touched by any mechanical meanswhile the cigarettes advance in divergent paths. In other words, oncethe cigarette rods of multiple unit length advance past one or moreknives which sever them to form one or more shorter cigarettes, one endof each shorter cigarette need not come in contact with any solid bodyother than the end face of a filter mouthpiece.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmode of operation, together with additional features and advantagesthereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detaileddescription of certain specific embodiments with reference to theaccompanying [drawings, in which:] drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of acontinuous cigarette rod and of a cigarette rod of double unit length,which latter is about to be severed to yield two cigarettes of unitlength;

FIG. 2 illustrates two cigarettes obtained on severing of the rod ofdouble unit length, the cigarettes being spaced axially to provide a gapfor a filter mouthpiece of double unit length;

FIG. 3 illustrates a group of rod-shaped articles including twocigarettes and a filter mouthpiece of double unit length;

FIG. 4 illustrates a filter cigarette of double unit length;

FIG. 5 illustrates two filter cigarettes of unit length which areobtained from the filter cigarette of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a filter cigarettemachine which embodies one form of our invention, the view of FIG. 6being taken from the lefthand side of FIG. 7, as seen in the directionindicated by arrow VI;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 6 asseen in the direction indicated by arrow VII;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another part of thefilter cigarette making machine;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section as seen in the direction of arrows fromthe line lX-IX of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary [and] end elevational view of a modified filtercigarette machine which is directly coupled to a cigarette rod formerand which is arranged to produce four filter cigarettes at a time; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a system for severing a continuous cigarette rod toobtain rods of multiple unit length for use in the apparatus of FIGS.6-9 or 10.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to the drawing[drawings], and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a cigarette rod S ofmultiple unit length which may be severed to yield shorter sections orcigarettes of unit length. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod S isof double unit length; more particularly, its length is twice the lengthof the tobacco-containing portion of a filter cigarette. Such cigaretterods S may be fed consecutively through a suitable chute 2, shown inFIG. 6, so that each thereof advances in a direction transversely to itsaxis or, alternatively, a continuous cigarette rod CR issuing lengthwise(arrow a) from a cigarette rod former (not shown) is being severed by aknife K at longitudinally spaced points to yield cigarette rods S ofmultiple unit length which are thereupon advanced in a direction atright angles to their axes to form a single file of cigarette rodsadvancing in a direction indicated by the arrow b. Each consecutive rodS is then severed along the phantom line c (see the knife 3 in FIG. 6)to yield two cigarettes T T of unit length (FIG. 2), and this cuttingstep takes place while the single file of rods S continues to advance inthe direction indicated by arrow b. The distance between the thusobtained pairs of axially aligned cigarettes T T is then increased(arrow d) in a novel "way, namely, so that their inner end faces t tneed not be touched by any solid bodies, whereby the distance betweenthe cigarettes T T increases sufficiently to provide a gap e whose'Wldlh at least equals but preferably exceeds the axial length of afilter mouthpiece F of double unit length. The spreadinginstrumentalities, not shown in FIGS. 1-5, do not come in contact withthe tobacco fillers TF of the cigarettes T T but solely with the papertubes PT which surround the respective fillers. In other words, the endfaces t t remain untouched and therefore, the cigarette T or [and] T isnot likely to lose tobacco at the end which is to be connected with afilter mouthpiece.

The gap e thereupon receives a filter mouthpiece F of double unitlength, see FIG. 3, so that the cigarettes T T form therewith a group Gof three coaxial rod shaped articles wherein the filter mouthpiece islocated between the untouched end faces t t The cigarettes T T are thenmoved axially and toward each other (arrows f in FIG. 4) so that theirend faces t t now abut against the respective end faces of the filtermouthpiece F.

In the next step, the machine in which the method is being carried outattaches to the group G an adhesivecoated wrapper V of paper or similarweb material which is thereupon convoluted around the filter mouthpieceF and around the adjacent end portions of the cigarettes T T so as toform a filter cigarette FC of double unit length, see FIG. 4. Thisfilter cigarette FC is then severed across the wrapper V midway betweenthe ends of the filter mouthpiece F (see the line g in FIG. to yield twoaxially aligned filter cigarettes Z Z of unit length. One of the filtercigarettes Z Z is then reversed so that its filter mouthpiece F isadjacent to the filter mouthpiece F of the other filter cigarettewhereby such cigarettes form a single file which may be conveyed into astacking, storing or packaging machine in a manner to be described inconnection with FIG. 8.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a portion of a filter cigarette machine whichmay be utilized in practicing the method of our invention. This machinecomprises a first conveyor here shown as a rotary magazine drum 1 whichis provided with axially parallel peripheral pockets or holders la andwhich rotates in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 1b) past a feedstation at which the pockets 1a receive cigarette rods S of double unitlength. This feed station accommodates an inclined chute 2 whichreceives cigarette rods from a suitable source here shown as a magazineor hopper 2a. The rods S are conveyed in a single file past a revolvingdisk knife 3 which severs each rod (see the phantom line c in FIG. 1) sothat such rods yield pairs of axially aligned cigarettes T T of unitlength.

The drum 1 delivers such pairs or rows of aligned cigarettes T T to afirst transfer station A at which the cigarettes are transferred intoperipheral pockets or holders 4a, 6a of a second conveyor including twodivergent frustoconical spreader drums 4, 6. These drums rotate about ashaft 18 whose axis is parallel with the axis of the drum 1, but theaxes of the drums 4, 6 are inclined with reference to the axis of theshaft 18. FIG. 7 shows that the drums 4, 6 are mounted mirrorsymmetrically with reference to a plane B--B which intersects themagazine drum 1 midway between its end faces and which is perpendicularto the axis of the drum 1.

The drums 4, 6 respectively cooperate with two additional frustoconicaldrums 5, [6] 7 which are provided with peripheral pockets 5a, 7a andwhich receive cigarettes T T at two transfer stations D, E. The drums 4,6 rotate in a clockwise direction (see the arrow 4b in FIG. 6), and thedrums 5, 7 rotate in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 5b). It will benoted that the drums 4, S and 6, 7 respectively taper in oppositedirections. The conicity of these drums will determine the axial lengthof gaps e between the inner ends of the cigarettes T T The drums 5, 7deliver the cigarettes T T into peripheral pockets 8a provided on athird conveyor here shown as an assembly drum 8 whose axis is parallelwith the axis of the drum 1. The transfer stations I, K between thedrums 5, 7 and 8 are normally located in a plane which is common to theaxes of the drums 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The axial length of the drum 8 issufiicient to insure that each pocket 8a may accommodate a pair ofaxially spaced cigarteetes T T plus a filter mouthpiece F of double unitlength, such filter mouthpieces being fed consecutively by a supply drum9 which is provided with axially parallel peripheral pockets or holders9a and which rotates in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 9b). Thisdrum may receive filter mouthpieces from a magazine 9c through a chute9d (see FIG. 8) or from a suitable shufliing drum of well knownconstruction whereon rows of two or more axially aligned filtermouthpieces may be condensed to form a single file.

The thus obtained groups G of cigarettes T T and filter mouthpieces Fare conveyed past a wrapper applying drum 50, shown in FIG. 8, whichapplies a wrapper V to each consecutive filter mouthpiece F, and thewrappers are convoluted around the mouthpieces and around the adjacentend portions [positions] of the cigarettes T T while the groups G travelin the pockets of a wrapper drum 52 which receives consecutive groupsfrom the drum 8 [6]. A satisfactory apparatus for convoluting thewrappers V around consecutive groups G is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.2,740,409. The wrapping drum 52 delivers filter cigarettes PC of doubleunit length to a transfer drum 53 which cooperates with a rotary diskknife 54 serving to sever each wrapped filter cigarette PC of doubleunit length (see the line g in FIG. 5) so that each such cigarette FCyields two filter cigarettes Z 2;, of unit length. The cigarettes Z areinverted in the pockets of a reversing drum 55 and are transferred withcigarettes 2; into the pockets of a take-off conveyor 57 to form asingle file of filter cigarettes which may be advanced into a stackingdevice, not shown.

The drum 50 cooperates with a rotary cutter 58 which severs a continuousweb 59 of convoluted material stored on a supply reel 60. On its waytoward the drum 50, the web 59 has one of its sides coated with a layerof adhesive which is applied thereto by a paster 62 of conventionalconstruction.

It is clear that the drums shown in FIGS. 68 are provided with suitablearcuate shields and/or with suction ducts to retain the rod-shapedarticles in the repsective pockets. Such shields were omitted in FIGS.7-l0 for the sake of clarity, but FIG. 6 shows a portion of a shield 8dwhich retains the groups G in the pockets 8a.

Referring to FIG. 9, the drums 4, 6 and 5, 7 of the second conveyor aremounted to rotate about bearing sleeves 9, 10 and 11, 12. These sleevesare respectively provided with inclined bores 13, 14 and 15, 16 forshafts 18 and 19. It will be noted that the sleeves 9, 10 are fixedlyattached to the shaft 18 by keys 20 and that similar keys 20 connect thesleeves 11, 1.2 with the shaft 19 [9]. The axes of the drums 4, 6 makesmall acute angles with the axis of the shaft 18.

A driver gear 21, located behind the plane of FIG, 9 and indicated bydot-dash lines, serves to drive the drums 47. This gear 21 is providedwith helical teeth and is driven by the prime mover of the filtercigarette machine. It meshes with a gear 24 which in turn drives thedrum 6 through an intermediate gear 23. The gear 23 also drive a gear 25which is fixedly secured to the drum 7. The drums 6, 7 carry bevel gears26, 27 which mesh with bevel gears 28, 29 on the drums 4 and 5.

The drum 1 is rotatable on needle bearings 30 surrounding a shaft 31which is fixedly mounted in a frame 17. This drum 1 is provided with acoaxial sleeve 32 which surrounds the bearings 30 and which is connectedwith a gear 22 meshing with the driver gear 21 through a suitable geartrain, not shown.

The drum 8 and the other drums shown in FIG. 8 may be driven by the gear21 or by another driver element in a manner similar to that described inconnection with the drum 1.

The peripheral speeds of the drums 1, 4-7, 8 and 9 are the same so thatthe transfer of cigarette rods S, cigarettes T T filters F and groups Gmay take place without any damage thereto. FIG. 7 shows portions of twocams 71, 72 [70, 71] which are adjacent to the end faces of the drum 8and whose cam faces are inclined in such a way that the cigarettes T Tare compelled to move inwardly and into actual abutment with the filtermouthpieces F before a group G reaches the drum 50. The earns 71, 72prevent the formation of gaps between the tobacco-containing portions TT and filter mouthpieces F of filter cigarettes Z Z The machine of FIGS.6 to 9 operates as follows:

The magazine 2a discharges cigarette rods S of double unit length, andsuch rods descend through the chute 2 and enter consecutive pockets 1ato advance past the knife 3 and to yield pairs of axially alignedcigarettes T T At the station A, the cigarettes T T are respectivelytransferred into the pockets 4a, 6a so as to move in divergent pathsaway from each other, see FIG. 7. At the stations D, E, the cigarettes TT are respectively transferred into the pockets 5a, 7a of the drums 5, 7and continue to move away from each other to reach the transfer stationsI, K at which they enter the pockets 8a of the assembly drum 8. It willbe noted that each pair or [of] row of cigarettes T T obtained bysevering a cigarette rod L] S, enters the same pocket 8a but that suchcigarettes are spaced sufficiently (see the gap e in FIG. 3) to provideroom for a filter mouthpiece F of double unit length. Such filtermouthpieces are fed by the supply drum 9, and the thus obtained groups Gare thereupon processed and treated in a manner as described inconnection with FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modified apparatus for the practice of our method,and this apparatus is capable of simultaneously producing four filtercigarettes Z '-Z so that its output is twice the output of the apparatusshown in FIGS. 6-9.

A continuous cigarette rod CR is fed lengthwise [endwise] by a conveyor80 in a manner as disclosed, for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,124,397, andthis continuous rod CR is severed by an orbiting reciprocable knife 81at longitudinally spaced points to yield cigarette rods 7 S of quadrupleunit length. The rods S are delivered into the pockets 82 of a rotarymagazine drum 83 which advances such rods in a single file and in adirection at right angles to the axes of the rods so that the rodstravel past two revolving disk knives 84, 85. These knives sever thelocated cigarette rod S of double unit length and two cigarettes T T ofunit length. The rods S are transferred into the pockets of a centrallylocated drum 86 which is mounted midway between two pairs of conicaldrums 87, 88 and 89, 90. These pairs of conical drums respectivelycorrespond to and perform the functions of the drums 4, 5 and 6, 7 shownin FIG. 7. The main dilference is that the conicity of the drums 87, 88and 89, 90 is greater because these drums must move the cigarettes T Taway from each other to form not one but two gaps e each of which willreceive a filter mouthpiece F of double unit length. The drum 86deposits the rods S into consecutive grooves 91 of an assembly drum 92,and each consecutive groove 91 further receives a pair of algined butspaced cigarettes T T whereby the rod S occupies a central position at adistance e from each of the cigarettes T T These gaps then receivefilter mouthpieces F of double unit length, and such filter mouthpiecesmay be fed by two chutes of the type shown at 9d in FIG. 8. The thusformed groups G (each comprising two cigarettes T T two filtermouthpieces F and a cigarette rod S) are thereupon advanced between twocams 93, 94 which cause the cigarettes T T to move in actual abutmentwith the filter mouthpieces F and which also cause the filtermouthpieces to move in actual abutment with the cigarette rod S.

In the next following operation (not shown), the groups G are providedwith pairs of wrappers one of which secure the left-hand filtermouthpiece F to the cigarette T and to the cigarette rod S, and theother of which secures the right-hand filter mouthpiece F to thecigarette T and to the cigarette rod S of the respective group wherebythe resulting rod is a filter cigarette of quadruple unit length. Suchcigarettes of quadruple unit length are severed by three knives 95, 96,97 so that each thereof yields four filter cigarettes Z 'Z [V -Z,] ofunit length. Two of these filter cigarettes are then inverted so thattheir filter mouthpieces F form a single file with the filtermouthpieces F of the non-inverted cigarettes. If desired, one of thethus obtained single files of cigarettes is inverted again to ultimatelyobtain only one single file of filter cigarettes whic may be led to astacking device. The knives 95, 97 respectively sever the wrapperssurrounding the left-hand and the right-hand filter mouthall) till

pieces F, and the knife 96 forms cuts across the centers of consecutiverods S.

A feature common to all embodiments of our invention is that the endface of cigarettes or cigarette rods which come in abutment with filtermouthpieces need not be touched by any parts other than the knives sothat each such end face is free of projecting tobacco particles. Also,the end portions of cigarettes and cigarette rods which which areadjacent to such end faces are not likely to lose tobacco so that thedensity of the filler is uniform throughout the full length of thetobacco-containing portion of each filter cigarette. This is due to thefact that the spreading. action (i.e., the shifting of cigarettes and/orcigarette rods axially of and from each other) is not effected by meansof cams of the type used in many presently known filter cigarettemachines (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,858,046) but rather byconical drums or analogous spreading devices which engage the cigarettesin zones other than such end faces thereof which are about to move inabutment with filter mouthpieces. Another very important advantage ofour method and apparatus is that the rods and cigarettes are conveyed indirections substantially at right angles to their axes and that thelength of the path in which such cigarettes and cigarette rods advancefrom a magazine (2a in FIG. 6) or from the point where they are severedfrom a continuous cigarette rod (see the knife 81 in FIG. 10) is veryshort so that the end portions of such cigarettes and cigarette rods arevery unlikely to dissipate some of their contents. A sophisticatedsmoker will shun cigarettes with untight ends or filter cigarettes whichtend to knick at the joint between the tobacco-containing portion andthe filter mouthpiece, especially since a filter cigarette wherein theinner end of the tobacco-containing portion contains a loosely packedtobacco filler is likely to leak which is quite annoying to a smoker.

A further very important feature of our apparatus is that rods ofmultiple unit length are severed at a point (knife 3 of FIG. 6) which isclosely adjacent to the point (drum 9) where the apparatus insertsfilter mouthpieces so that there is little opportunity for the shorterrods to lose some tobacco prior to forming the groups G.

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically one method of severing a continuouscigarette rod CR to obtain cigarette rods S of multiple unit length. Therod CR advances [endwise] lengthwise and is severed by a knife 200 toyield rods S of multiple unit length. These rods are accelerated by arevolving cam 201 so that they define gaps 202. The foremost rod S isthen deflected sideways (arrow 203) and is severed by a knife 204 toyield two cigarettes T T of unit length. These cigarettes are then movedapart to form a gap 205 in the same way as described in connection withFIGS. 6 to 9. This gap receives a filter mouthpiece F of double unitlength.

If desired, one of the cigarettes T T may travel in a path which isperpendicular to its axis. Thus, and referring to FIG. 10, this wouldmean that the cigarette T could be conveyed by the drum 86 so that theapparatus would include a single set of conical drums 89, 90.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention[and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims].

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. In a method of assembling filter cigarettes, the steps of advancing asingle file of parallel cigarette rods of quadruple unit length in adirection transversely to the axes thereof; consecutively severing eachof the advancing cigarette rods at two points to form pairs of coaxialcigarette rods of unit length and a cigarette rod of double unit lengthbetween each pair of coaxial cigarette rods of unit length whereby therods of double unit length and the respective pairs of rods of unitlength have closely adjacent end faces; increasing the distance betweenthe rods of double unit length and the respective pairs of rods of unitlength by subjecting consecutive pairs of rods of unit length to theaction of spreading forces acting thereon in zones other than said endfaces thereof whereby each rod of unit length defines with therespective rod of double unit length a gap of a width which at leastequals the length of a filter mouthpiece of double unit length;inserting a filter mouthpiece of double unit length into each pair ofconsecutively formed coaxial gaps whereby each pair of rods of unitlength forms with the respective rod of double unit length and with apair of filter mouthpieces a group of rod shaped articles correspondingto a filter cigarette of quadruple unit length; applying adhesive-coatedwrappers around each consecu tive pair of aligned filter mouthpieces andaround the adjacent portions of the respective rods; severing eachconsecutive pair of wrappers midway across the respective filtermouthpiece; and severing each consecutive rod of double unit lengthwhereby each group yields four filter cigarettes of unit length.

2. In a method of assembling filter cigarettes, the steps of advancing asingle file of parallel cigarette rods of quadruple unit length in adirection transversely to the axes thereof, consecutively severing eachof the advancing cigaretter rods at two points to form pairs of coaxialcigarette rods of unit length and a cigarette rod of double unit lengthbetween each pair of coaxial cigarette rods of unit length whereby therods of double unit length and the respective pairs of rods of unitlength have closely adjacent end faces; increasing the distance betweenthe rods of double unit length and the respective pairs of rods of unitlength by subjecting consecutive pairs of rods of unit length to theaction of spreading forces acting thereon in zones other than said endfaces thereof whereby each rod of unit length defines with therespective rod of double unit length a gap of a width which at leastequals the length of a filter mouthpiece of double unit length;inserting a filter mouthpiece of double unit length into each pair ofconsecutively formed coaxial gaps whereby each pair of rods of unitlength forms with the respective rod of double unit length and with apair of filter mouthpieces a group of rod shaped articles correspondingto a filter cigarette of quadruple unit length; moving the consecutivepairs of rods of unit length into abutment with the respective pairs offilter mouthpieces and simultaneously moving such filter mouthpiecesinto abutment with the respective rods of double unit length; applyingadhesive-coated wrappers around each consecutive pair of aligned filtermouthpieces and around the abutting portions of the respective rods;severing each consecutive pair of wrappers midway across the respectivefilter mouthpiece; and severing each consecutive rod of double unitlength whereby each group yields four filter cigarettes of unit length.

3. In an apparatus for manufacturing filter cigarettes in which a rotarydrum is provided in its periphery with axially extending pockets of alength sufficient to receive therein cigarette rods having a lengthequal to the length of two cigarettes, means for feeding individualcigarette rods of double unit length into the pockets of said rotarydrum, a rotary knife arranged to out said cigarette rods into twocigarettes while in the pockets of said rotary drum, two conical drumsarranged in side-by-side relation for moving each of said twocigarettes, said conical drums being adjacent to said rotary drum toreceive said cigarettes from said rotary drum and to transfer said twocigarettes through circuitous and divergent pathways simultaneously andin axially spaced relation to a conveyor arranged to move transverselywith reference to the longitudinal extensions of said cigarettes, meansfor inserting a filter mouthpiece of double unit length into the spacebetween each pair of said axially aligned cigarettes and for axiallymoving said cigarettes in abutment with the opposite ends of said filtermouthpiece, said two conical drums being mounted to rotate aboutseparate oppositely extending axes inclined at an acute angle to theaxis of said rotary drum, whereby said cigarettes will be moved throughan [annular distance] angle of approximately for being deposited on theconveyor in axially spaced relation.

4. In an apparatus for manufacturing filter cigarettes in which a rotarydrum is provided in its periphery with axially extending pockets of alength sufiicient to receive therein cigarette rods having a lengthequal to the length of two cigarettes, means for feeding individualcigarette rods of double unit length into the pockets of said rotarydrum, a rotary knife arranged to cut said cigarette rods into twocigarettes while in the pockets of said rotary drum, two conical drumsfor each one of said two cigarettes arranged in side-by-side relation toreceive said cigarettes from said rotary drum and to transfer saidcigarettes through circuitous and divergent pathways simultaneously andin axially spaced relation to a conveyor arranged to move transverselywith reference to the longitudinal extensions of said cigarettes, saidconical drums having their tapers arranged in opposite directions andbeing positioned to diverge from said rotary drum toward said conveyorin such a manner that the circumferential surface zones at the receivingside and the discharge side of said pairs of conical drums aresubstantially parallel, said two conical drums for each cigarette beingmounted to rotate about separate axes extending in opposite directionsand at an acute angle to the axis of said rotary drum whereby saidcigarettes will be moved through an angular distance of approximately180 for being deposited on the conveyor in axially spaced apartrelation, and means for inserting a filter mouthpiece of double unitlength into gaps between each pair of said axially aligned cigarettesand for axially pushing said cigarettes in abutment with the oppositeends of said filter mouthpiece.

5. An apparatus for manufacturing filter cigarettes as set forth inclaim 4, including a machine frame, stationary axles counted fixedly insaid machine frame, and bearing sleeves having inclined bores thereinfixedly attached to said axles, said conical drums being rotatablymounted on said bearing sleeves, and driven gear means for rotating saidconical drums.

6. In an apparatus for manufacturing filter cigarettes in which a rotarydrum is provided in its periphery with axially extending pockets of alength sufficient to receive therein cigarette rods having a lengthequal to the length of two cigarettes, means for feeding individualcigarette rods of double unit length into the pockets of said rotarydrum, a rotary knife arranged to cut said cigarette rods into twocigarettes while in the pockets of said rotary drum, two conical drumsarranged in side-by-side relation, one for each of said two cigarettes,said conical drums being mounted to rotate about inclined axes extendingoppositely and making acute angles with the axis of said rotary drum toreceive said cigarettes from said rotary drum and to convey the saidcigarettes through circuitous and divergent pathways simultaneously andin axially spaced relation, a rotary assembly drum having pockets of alength exceeding the length of the pockets in said rotary drum andarranged to rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal extensionsof said cigarettes, means for inserting a filter mouthpiece of doubleunit length into the gap between each pair of said axially alignedcigarettes including a rotary carrier drum adjacent to the periphery ofsaid assembly drum, and means for axially pushing said cigarettes inabutment with the opposite ends of said filter mouthpiece.

7. In an apparatus for assembling filter cigarettes, a rotary drumhaving axial pockets in its periphery each of a length approximating thelength of two cigarettes, means for feeding individual cigarette rods ofdouble unit length into consecutive pockets of said rotary drum, arotary knife adjacent to the rotary drum and arranged to cut thecigarette rods into cigarettes of unit length while in the pockets ofsaid drum, sets of conical drums arranged in pairs in side-by-siderelation and mounted to rotate about separate axes extending at an acuteangle to the axis of the rotary drum, the peripheries of one set of saidconical drums being provided with cigarette receiving pockets adapted tomate with the pockets in the rotary drum to receive the cigarettes fromthe rotary drum, an assembly drum having pockets in its periphery of alength exceeding the length of pockets in the periphery of the rotarydrum and having its pockets spaced circumferentially to mate with thepockets in onother set of conical drums whereby said cigarettes will bedeposited on the assembly drum and spaced axially one from the other,said sets of conical dmms being mounted with their cone surfacesarranged oppositely so that they will assume parallel positions in theareas adjacent to the rotary and assembly drums, and means fordepositing filter mouthpieces between the cigarettes on the assemblydrum.

8. An apparatus for making and manipulating cigarettes, comprising firstconveyor means arranged to advance a continuous cigarette rod lengthwise[endwise]; first knife means adjacent to said conveyor means andarranged to sever the rod at longitudinally spaced points so as to forma series of consecutive cigarette rods of multiple unit length; secondconveyor means arranged to receive and to convey consecutive cigaretterods of multiple unit length sideways so that such rods form a singlefile; second knife means adjacent to said second conveyor means andarranged to sever consecutive cigarette rods of multiple unit length, sothat each such rod yields a plurality of cigarettes with closelyadjacent end faces; and spreader means arranged to increase the distancebetween the end faces of cigarettes while the cigarettes advancesideways, said spreader means comprising a plurality of conveyors eacharranged to receive from said second conveyor means one cigarette ofeach consecutive cigarette rod of multiple unit length, said conveyorsbeing arranged to advance the respective cigarettes in divergent pathsso that the distance between the end faces of aligned cigarettesincreases while the cigarettes advance with the respective conveyors,each of said conveyors being a conical drum having peripheral holdersfor cigarettes and being arranged to support only the paper tubes ofsuch cigarettes so that the end faces of the cigarettes remain untouchedduring movement thereof away from each other.

9. An apparatus for making and manipulating cigarettes, comprising firstconveyor means arranged to convey a single file of cigarette rods ofmultiple unit length in a direction substantially at right angles to thelongitudinal extensions of such cigarette rods; knife means adjacent tosaid conveyor means and arranged to sever each consecutive cigarette rodto form rows of aligned shorter cigarette rods whereby such shorter rodshave closely adjacent end faces; and spreader means including aplurality of conveyors each arranged to receive one shorter rod of eachconsecutive row and to convey the respective shorter rod in a path whichdiverges from the path of the other shorter rods so that the distancebetween the shorter rods increases, said conveyors including pairs ofconical dnims which taper in opposite directions.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the conveyors of saidspreader means are arranged to engage the respective shorter rods inzones other than said end faces.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a source ofcigarette rods of multiple unit length arranged to discharge such rodsinto consecutive holders provided on said first conveyor means.

12. In an apparatus for making and manipulating filter cigarettes inwhich cigarette rods of multiple unit length are fed consecutively intoaxially extending pockets provided in the periphery of a first rotaryconveyor, in combination, means for severing consecutive rods in thepockets of said conveyor so that the rods yield rows of aligned shorterrods; a second conveyor comprising sets of pairwise arranged conicaldrums mounted to rotate about axes which are inclined with reference toeach other and with reference to the axis of said rotary conveyor, eachset of conical drums having peripheral pockets arranged to receive andto advance one shorter rod of each row of shorter rods in a path whichdiverges from the path of the other set of conical drums so that thedistance between the shorter rods which form such rows increases whilethe shorter rods move away from the first conveyor; a third rotaryconveyor having peripheral pockets arranged to receive rows of shorterrods from said second conveyor so that successive pockets of said thirdconveyor receive rows of shorter rods which are spaced axially withreference to each other; means for inserting filter mouthpieces ofdouble unit length between the axially spaced shorter rods inconsecutive pockets of said third conveyor; and means for moving theshorter rods in consecutive pockets of said third conveyor toward eachother so that the shorter rods come in abutment with the respectivefilter mouthpieces.

13. In a method of assembling filter cigarettes, the steps of advancinga continuous cigarette rod lengthwise; severing the rod at a pluralityof longitudinally spaced points so as to form a succession of cigaretterods of double unit length; advancing successive cigarette rods ofdouble unit length sideways so that such rods form a single file ofparallel rods; advancing said single file of parallel cigarette rods ofdouble unit length in a direction transversely of their axes;consecutively severing the transversely advancing cigarette rods bymeans of fixedposition rotary knife means to form pairs of coaxialcigarettes of unit length with closely adjacent end faces; increasingthe distance between said end faces of the coaxial cigarettes bysubjecting at least one cigarette of each consecutive pair to the actionof spreading forces whereby said end faces of the thus spaced cigarettesof consecurive pairs define between themselves gaps of a width at leastequal to the length of a filter mouthpiece of double unit length;inserting a filter mouthpiece of double unit length into each of theconsecutively formed gaps; applying an adhesive coated wrapper aroundeach consecutive filter mouthpiece and around the adjacent portions ofthe respective pairs of cigarettes including said end faces thereof; andsevering each consecutive wrapper midway across the respective filtermouthpiece to form pairs of filter cigarettes.

14. An apparatus for making and manipulating cigarettes, comprisingfirst conveyor means arranged to advance a continuous cigarette rodlengthwise; first knife means adjacent to said conveyor means andarranged to sever the rod at longitudinally spaced points so as to forma series of consecutive cigarette rods of double unit length; secondconveyor means arranged to receive and to convey consecutive cigaretterods of double unit length sideways so that such rods of double unitlength form a file; fixed-position rotary second knife means arranged tosever consecutive transversely advancing cigarette rods of double unitlength while moving sideways so that each such rod yields a pair ofcoaxial cigarettes moving sideways and having end faces adjacent to eachother; spreader means for separating the cigarettes of successivelyformed pairs by causing at least one cigarette of each pair of coaxialcigarettes to move substantially axially and away from the othercigarette of the respective pair while moving sideways so that saidadjacent end faces of said pairs of cigarettes are not moved againsteach other after severing of the respective cigarette rods of doubleunit length by said second knife means; means for inserting mouthpiecesof double unit length between the cigarettes of successive pairs; meansfor applying adhesive-coated wrappers around the mouthpieces and theadjoining portions of cigarettes in successive pairs including said endfaces thereof to form filter cigarettes of double unit length; and meansfor moving said pairs of cigarettes, filter mouthpieces and filtercigarettes of double unit length sideways.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, further cornprising means orsubdividing successively formed filter cigarettes of double unit lengthinto filter cigarettes of unit length while the filter cigarettes ofdouble unit length move sideways.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

ALDRICH UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS France. Germany. Germany.Switzerland.

F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

